The signing of the proposed comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (CECA) between Chinese mainland and Taiwan will benefit the island in both short and long term, senior Chinese leader Jia Qinglin said on Tuesday.

Some people in Taiwan is politicizing economic issues. They are trying to impede economic exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Straits with political factors, said Jia, chairman of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a political advisory body.

"This is not good for Taiwan's economic development, and is against the interests of Taiwan compatriots," said Jia at a panel discussion with Taiwan deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC), China's legislative body.

"Compatriots on both sides of the Straits should join hands and support each other, so that together we will overcome difficulties brought by the global financial crisis," he said.

Jia called for efforts to strengthen economic cooperation and comprehensive exchanges across the Straits, enhancing political mutual trust to preserve the tendency of improving cross-Straits relations.

He stressed the need for closer cultural and educational exchanges, saying that such exchanges should focus on the preservation and development of Chinese culture.

(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2009)